Collins Suzannes. (2010).The Hunger Games. Scholastic Press:New York


Summary
katniss Everdeen a 16 year old living in a nation called Penam that is  formally known as North America.  Every year the Capitol of Panem hosts an annual event called the Hunger Games.  This annual event consists of  two tributes (male and female), who are selected from the 12 districts.  This savage account is televised for all the districts to view.  The tributes must fight until one remains standing but there is a twist to this story.  This book gives  a gruesome account of how Katniss tries to survive.

Critique
I found this book to be very disturbing.  Though well written but extremely violent.  The thought of having to take another person's life to survive only for the moment is very unnatural yet  this barbaric approach to survival has been cultivated in Western society through a winner take the spoils cultural acceptance.  I would reccomend this book to ages 12 and up.

If you enjoyed this book, you may want to read the following:
1.  The Fall (The Gods Slayer Trilogy) by David L. Dawson
2.  Fire Stones (The Fire wars #2)( A Young Adult Dystopian Mythology Fiction by Kailin Gow
3.  Mocking Jay (Book 3) by Suzanne Collins

Websites
1.  www. fanpop.com/spots/the-hunger-games/articles/54407/title/opinions-review-hunger-games
2.  www.teenink.com/opinions/social_issues-civics/articles/250477/violence-from-The-Hunger-Games-and-our-society

Wright, Richard. (2010). Black Boy: New York:



Summary
If you like to read an  excellent  example of a brilliantly crafted writing and can look amid the horror and sadness of true events then this is definitely the book for you.

Black Boy is an autobiography of the author Richard Wright.  The non-fiction book retells the painful memories of Richard's life growing up in the segregated South and  his journey of how he had a hunger and thirst to learn and ultimately becoming a writer.  He struggles to grow up in a society that has clearly been mapped out into two worlds; black and white.  These two worlds only came together to form a sick and sad union only for the  need and necessity of which Richard never accepted but learned to adapt.

 Critique
I really enjoyed this book.  Amid Mr. Wright's grim experiences, I thoroughly enjoyed his writing.  Mr. Wright had a way of verbalizing his thoughts and feelings very poignantly.  There are time you can actually see what he was seeing and feeling.  Unfortunately, he was punished for being so naive.  I recommend this book to age 12 and up.  This was an Excellent good read.

Connections
If you are interested in this book, you would probably be interested in these books as well.
1.  Native son by richard Wright
2.  If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin
3.  Go Tell It On The Mountain by James Baldwin
4.  Fences by August Wilson
5.  Blues For Mr. Charlie by James Baldwin
6.  The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
7.  Cane by Jean Toomer

To further investigate issues from this book you can go to the websites listed below.
1.  youthvoice.net/discussion/hoe-richard-wrights-book-black-boy-inspires-me-and-other-readers

2.  www.goodreads.com/book/show/228630.Black_Boy

Cleopatra Rules

Shelter, Vicky Alvear.(2010).Cleopatra Rules!: The Amazing Life of The Original Teen Queen: Pennsylvania: Boyds Mills Press, Inc.

Summary
Do you like Drama, mystery, romance, scandal or just all out mayhem? if your answer to any of the above then this is definetly the book for you.  This book is an informal biographical sketch and history of the Pharoah Cleopatra.  This book explores how Cleopatra's rose to be the powerful force of Egypt and reign as the Queen of Egypt. 

Critique
This book fun to read.  There are times you feel as though the documentary is being told through the eyes of a teenager.  The subjects in this book are written in the vernacular of a student.  There are lots of puns and combined modern reference  with ancient facts.  The characters in the book are whimsically described; one example is, "Caesar was fifty-two years old.  He had a wife at home and a grown daughter who had died giving birth years before.  He was balding.  Yet the dud had a reputation for being a player." (p. 27)  I recommend this book to age 12 and up.

Website Interest
Now that you have my take on this wonderful book, lets see what others think.
www.commonsensemedia.org/book-review-cleopatra-rules
motherdaughterbookclub/2011/01/book-review-cleopatra-rule
www.goodreads.com/book/show/8285377-cleopatra-rules

Book Interests
1.  Alexander the Great Rocks the World
2.  My Name Is Not Easy
3.  Torn (The Missing Book 4)
Dare to Dream!: (25 extraordinary lives